America Tycoon: The Wolf of Showbiz

In recent years, every Oscar ceremony has been crammed with a nostalgia for the old days, so dreary that people can't help but yawn.

Even Jack Nicholson, that old white male, feels sleepy.

The old rascal wears his sunglasses on the bridge of his nose, hiding his eyes behind the black lenses, seemingly enjoying the ceremony, whilst already dreaming away.

As the camera pans over, Martin kicks Nicholson in the foot.

Nicholson doesn't move and opens his eyes to ask, "Are you about to go on stage to receive an award?"

Martin whispers, "Can you please show some respect for the Oscars?"

Leonardo chimes in, "You were almost snoring just now."

"I'm not angling for any awards, nor do I have any need from the Academy, why should I give them face?" Nicholson couldn't care less, "It's the Oscars that need me now, they have to send out a formal invitation every year, asking me to show up."

Leonardo falls silent.

Martin can't help but shake his head; Nicholson just radiates nonchalance.

On stage, Angelina Jolie presents the Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar, and "The Descendants" crew takes it home.

This makes the fifth nomination "The Martian" has lost tonight.

But from Martin to Elizabeth, from Leonardo to Nicholson, no one cares.

"The Martian" is targeting one and only one goal.

The rest of the nominations are just stepping stones.

After Esperanza Spalding performs a song commemorating the golden age, the soaring music starts, and Natalie Portman, last year's Best Actress, strides onto the stage.

Nicholson pushes his glasses up and sits up straight.

Leonardo stretches his stiff limbs slightly.

Elizabeth unconsciously grips Martin's arm tighter.

Martin too sharpens his focus; it's time for the Best Actor award!

The pity plan failed halfway, and soon it will be revealed if the race-to-the-bottom plan will succeed.

Across the aisle, Amber Heard glances at Elizabeth Olsen with disdain on her face, thinking: All this fuss over just a Best Actor award, they really lack poise.

Look at me, not nervous at all.

Just as she thinks this, she hears what sounds like a prayer.

Johnny Depp holds his hands together tightly, clutching a silver-white cross, praying to God not to let Martin Davis have his way.

Amber realizes why she isn't nervous—it's because Depp has nothing to do with this award, and because she doesn't love Depp.

In the living room of his mansion, Matt Damon picks up an almost-empty can of beer and, instead of drinking it, frowns at the televised Natalie Portman.

Lucy Anna holds the remote control, ready for damage control if needed.

As the woman by his side, she knows all too well that Martin Davis has been her husband's nightmare these past years.

Especially during the explosive Weinstein scandal, her husband frequently awoke from nightmares, shouting Martin Davis' name.

This time, being defamed by those wretched women and losing an Oscar nomination hit him hard.

On the TV, Natalie Portman in a red dress starts her speech.

At the Atlanta Cola Cult Headquarters, Elena gently rotates the ring on her finger, waiting for the moment the results are announced.

Including High Priest Robert, hundreds of red-clad believers pray together, "The Sect Hierarch must win, the Sect Hierarch must win!"

In the drawing room of the Davis Estate, Lily finds a streamer, tosses it over her head, pondering which kind of knot would look good.

She's ready to become Elizabeth's human-shaped gift.

Even human-shaped gifts need to be wrapped in streamers, right?

In the center of Hollywood Heights, Natalie Portman turns to look at the big screen behind her and recites the list of nominees alongside the footage, "Nominated for Best Actor are Martin Davis for 'The Martian,' George Clooney for 'The Descendants,' Gary Oldman for 'Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy,' Joel Edgerton for 'Warrior,' and Demián Bichir for 'A Better Life.'"

She tears open the envelope, pulls out the card, her face full of smiles, "And the Oscar for Best Actor goes to Martin Davis!"

The moment Martin's name leaves Natalie Portman's mouth, Elizabeth Olsen yells excitedly, leans in, and plants a solid kiss on Martin!

Everyone from "The Martian" cast and crew stands up, Leonardo and Nicholson clap vigorously.

The applause spreads like waves in all directions.

Martin ends the heated kiss with Elizabeth and hugs Nicholson.

Nicholson pats him on the back shouting, "We've won the race to the bottom! It's okay to celebrate halfway; we've won!"

Next, Martin hugs Leonardo, who says, "No one will ever make us do math problems again!"

But Martin laughs in his ear, a sinister laugh.

Leonardo feels a chill down his spine, sensing something bad is about to happen and quickly lets go.

Martin high-fives the rest of the cast and crew and strides toward the award stage.

Elizabeth stands from her seat, opening her arms to signal to those around.

The people around had already stood up, and the standing ovation was spreading.

In the thunderous applause, the first standing ovation of the night occurred!

Amber, seeing everyone around her standing, also got up with a complex look in her eyes watching the figure walking towards the stage.

Next to her, there was a snap as Johnny Depp's hand suddenly released, and the cross with the necklace fell to the ground.

Depp closed his eyes, leaning back in his chair, blocking his ears with both hands like a madman.

Not standing, not clapping, not watching or listening to Martin Davis receiving the award, was Depp's last act of defiance.

In the midst of applause, he growled at Martin's retreating figure: "Fuck squid!"

In the mansion's living room, the moment Natalie Portman announced the winner's name, Lucy Anna pressed the remote control to turn off the TV screen and sound.

But there was a clicking sound nearby.

On Matt Damon's characteristically honest face, dark clouds gathered; his right hand clenched tighter and tighter, crumpling the can he held, making an unpleasant noise as it deflated, the liquid spilling over his hand and onto the floor.

Lucy Anna was worried.

Matt Damon tossed the can into the trash bin and managed a weak smile: "It's fine, let's go for a walk."

The Cola Cult Headquarters was abuzz with excitement.

Elena picked up a can of cola, stood up facing everyone, opened it, and shouted: "We won! We won!"

"We won!" the others echoed in unison.

Robert grabbed the walkie-talkie: "Set off the fireworks!"

Outside, the whistling sounds continued as fireworks shot up into the sky, lighting up the entire night sky of Atlanta.

The tallest building in Atlanta lit up with neon lights.

Kelly Gray stood in her penthouse apartment, looking out at the view, and began to laugh.

The neon sign's letters were extra clear—Martin is Best Actor!

In the Davis Estate, Lily stood in front of the living room mirror, watching the person on the TV walking towards the stage, while tying ribbons in her hair.

She was skilled in sculpture, her fingers particularly agile, twisting the ribbons into a beautiful bow on her head.

It looked as though it had been wrapped by a gift shop.

Lily smiled at the mirror: "Elizabeth, you better keep your word; I'm all ready as your human-shaped gift. If you don't deliver, don't blame me for showing up at your doorstep to fight for you."

......

In the center of Hollywood Heights, amidst a sea of applause, Martin ascended the award stage.

Natalie Portman approached him for a hug and whispered, "Congratulations, Martin."

"Thank you," Martin replied, a bit excited, for all the work he had put into the campaign, and for already having taken out his biggest competitor. If someone had come from behind to win, it really would have been a huge injustice.

Natalie took the Oscar from the presenter and handed it to Martin.

Martin held the Oscar high above his head, then brought it back to cradle it in front of him and addressed the microphone: "Thank you to the Academy, thanks to all the jurors, thanks to my agent and every member of my team, thanks to everyone from 'The Martian' crew, and thank you to everyone I've met in my life—you know I'm thanking you!"

With time running out, he quickened his pace: "I'm really lucky, so lucky I don't know how this little gold man ends up in my hands. Oh... I know why, I have a deeply loving girlfriend who gave me all her love, so God is also favoring me."

The cameras immediately cut to Elizabeth Olsen.

Elizabeth clutched her chin with both hands, covering her mouth, seemingly choked with emotion.

Martin continued: "I also have a brother in arms, yes, Old Cloth, I'm talking about you,—without you I would have been long gone! And I have two mates, Jack Nicholson and Leonardo DiCaprio... hey, you two, from now on how will we solve the math problem of our trio having three Best Actor Oscars, when one is missing!"

The audience erupted with laughter.

Martin's counterattack started right there: "The great mathematician Martin Davis has presented a new math problem: the Hollywood Trinity has a combined total of six Oscar statuettes, how many does each person have?"

The laughter grew louder, and the main camera caught a close-up of Leonardo.

Leonardo's face was smiling, but inside he was thinking, damn you Martin, you dug a hole for me right here!

As the music signaling the end of his time began to play, Martin raised the Oscar once more and followed the presenter backstage.

As soon as he entered backstage, Angelina Jolie, who had been waiting at the entrance, came up to him and gave him a tight hug.

"Congratulations, you've finally got the award," Jolie congratulated him: "My Oscar-winning Leading Man."

Martin laughed and replied: "Lucky me."

Jolie walked with him and, seeing no one nearby, remarked: "A very successful public relations campaign, successfully eliminating the only competitor who could have challenged you."

Martin said earnestly: "My role and performance were also quite outstanding."

Jolie smiled: "Yes, they were outstanding; I'll call up Jennifer later tonight, and we'll celebrate for you."

"Let's do it in a few days," Martin suggested.

At that moment, a staff member came over to engrave Martin's Oscar trophy and its base with the corresponding award names.

Backstage, many people came over to take photos; Martin was in high spirits and turned no one away.